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Hardee County School Board approves Where’s the Bus rollout, Arrow Group contract and multiple district resolutions

6688894 · October 23, 2025
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Summary

At its Oct. 23 meeting the Hardee County School Board voted unanimously to adopt a five‑year Where’s the Bus hardware/software agreement, approve a professional services contract with Arrow Group, authorize partnership and budget items, and pass district security and best‑practices assessments.

Hardee County School Board members voted unanimously Oct. 23 to approve a suite of contracts, agreements and district assessments that administrators said will improve bus routing, student safety reporting and district operations.

Board members approved a five‑year hardware, software and support agreement with Where’s the Bus, authorized an interagency agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Suncoast Inc., approved a professional services contract with Arrow Group, adopted final budget amendments for 2024–25 and passed district security and best‑practices assessments.

Administrators said the Where’s the Bus system will add GPS tracking, seat‑level routing and new reporting that could help with full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) counts and Medicaid reporting. “Once we say yes, they will be ready to go and we expect installation by Nov. 4,” said Miss Bennett, an administrative staff member overseeing the rollout. Bennett told the board the district plans to phase implementation beginning with the high school and to aim for routine operation and parent notification by February.

Why it matters: the routing and reporting tools described by administrators affect daily safety procedures for drivers and students, and produce data the district uses for funding and program reporting. Board members also flagged near‑term checks: the Where’s the Bus pilot had an initial technical glitch that administrators said was resolved, and the board requested notifications as rollout milestones are met.

The board discussed the Arrow Group professional services contract, including whether Arrow would seek additional reimbursable expenses. According to staff, Arrow told the district its fee is all‑inclusive and that it would not submit separate reimbursable fees. The board also asked who would approve any future reimbursable requests; the meeting record shows staff said that could be handled by the board or by district administration.

Other items passed: a resolution authorizing participation in a small school district council consortium; an interagency agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Suncoast, which staff said served “over 80 students” last year and is recruiting mentors; final budget amendments for 2024–25; approval to remove specified surplus cafeteria equipment from inventory (staff clarified the change does not end the district’s move toward more scratch cooking); and adoption of the 2025–26 school security risk assessment and district best‑practices assessment.

Several facilities and operational items were approved with conditions. The board approved a request to use school property on Rodeo Drive on June 26, 2026, for overflow parking pending receipt of a certificate of insurance; staff said the requester was informed they may not use the site without that certificate.

Votes at a glance - 3.01 — Approval of minutes (Oct. 9, 2025): motion by Miss Cornell; second by Doctor Sharp; vote: Miss Cornell — yes; Miss Dasher — yes; Mister Smith — yes; Doctor Sharp — yes; Board Chair (name not specified) — yes. Outcome: passed. - 9.01 — Resolution: participation in Small School District Council Consortium: motion by Miss Cornell; second by Mister Smith; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. - 10.01 — Interagency agreement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Suncoast Inc.: motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Mister Smith; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. - 10.02 — Contract with Arrow Group (professional services): motion by Miss Cornell; second by Doctor Sharp; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. Staff said Arrow stated its fee is all‑inclusive. - 11.01 — Use of facilities (Rodeo Drive overflow parking, 06/26/2026), pending certificate of insurance: motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Mister Smith; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed (conditioned on COI). - 11.02 — Five‑year hardware/software/support agreement with Where’s the Bus (beginning 11/01/2025): motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Miss Cornell; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. Staff projected installation by Nov. 4 and phased rollout to be complete for routine use by February. - 12.01 — Final budget amendments for 2024–25: motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Mister Smith; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. - 13.01 — Remove surplus cafeteria equipment from inventory/storage: motion by Miss Cornell; second by Doctor Sharp; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. Staff clarified removal does not end the district’s move to scratch cooking. - 14.01 — Approval of the 2025–26 school security risk assessment: motion by Miss Cornell; second by Doctor Sharp; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. - 14.02 — Approval of the 2025–26 district best‑practices assessment: motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Miss Cornell; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed. - Consent agenda (multiple items): motion by Doctor Sharp; second by Mister Smith; unanimous yes. Outcome: passed.

Board members asked staff to return confirmations or policy language on a few operational points, including (1) notification when the Where’s the Bus installation and parent rollout milestones are met; (2) a process for ensuring certificate of insurance is received before facilities use; and (3) a future proposed policy to limit lengthy or open‑ended facility reservations so school and district needs are preserved.

The meeting adjourned after public comment—none was recorded at the podium.